Parachute.



PATENTED MAY 26,1903.. oi -W. AN VLEET.

I PARAGHUTE'.

APPLICATION rum mm; 11. 1901.

10 MODEL.

INVENTOR Q W m m, Vut

. WITNESSES:

BY 1 V a ATTOZNEYS :Rs co., mam-um UNiTD ATENT @nnrc.

CHARLES W. VAN VLEET, OF NEW YORK, N; Y.

PARACH UTE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 729,455 dat May26, 1903.

Application filed June 17, 1901.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES W. VAN VLEET, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Parachutes, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in parachutes; audit has for its object to provide a parachute that may be thrown. to a great height and then opened with quickness and certainty.

My invention consists in the novel parts, improvements, and, combinations herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, which are referred to herein and form a part hereof, illustrate one embodimentof my invention and serve, in connection with the description herein, to explain the principles of my invention and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying those principles.

In the drawings, Figure 1 illustrates a sectionai View of the parachute. Fig. 2 illus trates a side view of the parachute opened and the projectile falling to the ground.

Like reference characters refer to like parts wherever they occur throughout the drawlugs.

A represents a parachute having a circular fabric composed of cloth or any other suitable material afl fastened at its center to a connecting means consisting of a thimble a having a disk-shapeditop a located within the parachute, and a receptacle or cup at, having a disk-shaped bottom a located outside the parachute. The two disks are of the same size and may be fastened together by glue or by a rivet passing through the cloth. At the outer edges of the cloth or fabric a are fastened cords a a, which pass througha disk (1 Attached to the disk is thecord b, which carries the weight B. I

The parachute is moved forward by the combined energy of a projectile in the form of a rod 0, the weight, and the receptacles or sockets for connecting the said rod and holding the said weight; This projectile is thrown forward or upward by any energizing means, such as the well-known rubber sling or slungshot D, in which (1 represents the forked han dle, having eyes d d located at the ends of ,projec'tile.

Serial No. 64,826. (No model.)

the fork. Supporteddn the eyes is a cord d which is attached to the rubber elastic (1 which in turn carries the swing 01 In the operation of the device the weight B is placed in the receptacle a and one end of the projectile is placed in the thimble or socket (L This positions the weight so that its center of gravity is in line with the path of the propelling means and is operated upon directlyby it and yet does not in any wayinterfere with the energizing means of the The other end of the rod or projectileis-then placed in the energizing means, such as the slung-shot D, and is thrown upward until the energy of the projectile is spent. The upper end of the parachute will then turn, because of the weight located at that part of the parachute, while the lower end will tend to float in the air. This will permit the weight B to fall out of its supporting means and drop. to its normal position, thereby causing the parachute to distend, and at the sametirne the rod or projectile C will fall out of thesocket a and drop to the ground. The parachute will then tend to float in the air and slowly descend to the ground.

Fireworks or a signaling means may be attached to the parachute, whereby a display may be effected or the desired intelligence may be conveyed. p

While my invention is shown in the form of a toy, it may be used for heavier work where the combined ad vantages of height or wind may play any part, such as conveying light cords to stranded ships, whereby heavier ropes may be drawn to the ship for the rescue of persons on board.

My invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the particular construction shown, as many changes other than those herein suggested may be made'i'n such construction'without departing from the main principlesofmy invention or sacrificing'ji'tschief advantages.

What I claim as new, andjdesire to secure by Letters Patent, is I 1. As an article of manufacture a parachute provided with a detachable member and having a weight to cause it to be distended while falling, a receptacle located on the top of the parachute, and in line with and above the detachable member and adapted to hold and carry the said weight while the parachute is moving upward and to let go of the said weight upon the return of the parachute.

2. As an article of manufacture a parachute provided with a detachable member and having a weight to cause the parachute to be distended while falling, a receptacle located at the top of the parachute adapted to hold and carry the said weight while the parachute is moving upward and to let go of the said weight upon the return of the parachute, a coupling means located in line with and underneath the said receptacle for the said detachable member, whereby the said detaclr able member is connected to the parachute.

As an article of manufacture a parachute provided with a detachable member, a distending means and a socket located at the center and on the top of the parachute for carrying the distending means.

4. As an article of manufacture a parachute having a circular fabric and a weight, a means for supporting the said weight located on the top of the said fabric, a detachable member and a connecting means for the said detachable member, both of said means being located in line with the center of the parachute, whereby both the weight and the detachable member will be automatically disconnected by its motion in the air.

5. A parachute having a retarding member, a weight attached by cords to the said retarding member, a detachable member and a pair of sockets located on either side of the said retarding member for holding the said weight and the detachable member.

6. In a parachute a circular sheet, a weight attached by cords to the periphery of the said sheet, a pair of sockets fastened tothe said sheet, one adapted to connect the rod thereto and the other to carry the weight while the parachute is moved in one direction and to automatically permit the rod to drop and to temporarily relieve the weight as the parachute starts in the other direction.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES W. VAN VLEET.

Witnesses:

EDWIN SEGER, JOHN O. GEMPLER. 

